– Minister Mustapha tells Region Five farmers

FOLLOWING several complaints from rice farmers across the coast about inconsistencies in the grading of rice at mills, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has instructed officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to put systems in place to ensure grading personnel are employed and stationed at all mills.

“We will work along with the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), which is the primary body that looks after the interests of farmers, to have the necessary personnel trained by the GRDB and placed at all rice mills in the country. This will ensure rice farmers are treated fairly during the grading process,” Minister Mustapha said.

The minister also informed the gathering that the government will resume allocating subventions to the RPA to ensure it has the necessary resources to make representation for farmers.

GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan informed the farmers that arrangements have already been made with officials from the RPA, and training is expected to commence in the coming week.

“It’s a short but very detailed exercise. The RPA has identified a number of persons to undergo training, and once completed, these persons will be stationed at the various mills to ensure an appropriate grade of rice for both farmers and millers,” Hassan said.

Farmers also complained about inconsistencies in the scales at mills, and asked the minister to look into the matter.

Minister Mustapha committed to making contact with officials from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to have their officers conduct verification checks at the various rice mills.

The minister also made other immediate interventions that resulted in a machine being deployed to the region to carry out the clearing of some critical drainage canals. Farmers from the Mahaica area also expressed the desire to have phone lines, and repairs done to several sections of their roadways.

Minister Mustapha informed the residents that he’s already made contact with the Minister of Public Works, and that he will be visiting the community today to listen to their concerns, and put systems in place to ensure their issues are addressed.

CRITICAL WORKS
The subject minister also informed residents that budgetary allocations were made in the emergency budget to carry out critical works on the farm-to-market access road on the right bank of the Mahaicony River.

He informed the farmers, too, that other major works will be budgeted for in subsequent budgets, as the just-concluded one was for emergency purposes so as to address urgent issues.

Rice farmers from the Mahaicony Creek also complained about the inadequate drainage in the area.

Ramchan Bholagosien, a rice farmer, informed Minister Mustapha that he lost three rice crops because of the lack of drainage.

“It was very hard for me; I reached out to the Region and the NDIA, and by the time they came, it was too late,” Bholagosien said.

The minister, in responding to the farmer, said he regards farmers as one of the most important members of society.

“Comrade, I hear you, and I understand; farmers were not treated well over last five years,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “You are responsible for feeding the nation, and if in the past you were not seen as important, today, I am here to let you know that I see you as important.”

The subject minister also mentioned that the government is in the process of developing a new land-use policy to address the issue of regularising lands across the country.

Farmers also had queries about land-rental payments. In 2017, the previous government passed a Bill that saw heavy increases in land-rental fees and drainage and irrigation charges.

The new administration, immediately after taking office, made good on its campaign promise to have the charges reversed to what it was before the previous government took office.

“When we were in Opposition, we advised farmers not to pay these steep increases. We have to meet and decide, at the level of Cabinet, on whether we will make the reversal of payments retroactive,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha is expected to conduct a number of other outreaches to various farming communities during the course of the month.